
Morocco Destination Guide
Morocco is the place for adventure travellers. With the middle Atlas and the Anti-Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, Morocco offers many opportunities for adventure. In fact, trekking in the high Atlas Mountains is very popular. Closer to terra firma, a visit to Morocco is incomplete without a journey through its old cities. Casablanca and Tangiers embody the charm of the bygone colonial French era and offer a glimpse into the lives of the expatriates. But more fascinating are the ancient and exotic imperial cities of Marrakesh, Meknes and Fez. It is an exciting experience to explore the intricate streets and labyrinthine passages of the century old medinas.
From exploring ancient cities, to trekking in the mountains and deserts, to lazing on beautiful beaches, to shopping in the souks, you will love experiencing what Morocco has to offer!
It is not possible to cover everything that Morocco offers in just one trip, but our Morocco Destination Guide below tells you some of the wonderful things you can see and do in Morocco. A great way of seeing them is taking one of our locally run Morocco tours. To find further background information on Morocco, be sure to visit our Morocco Country Guide.
You can check out all the local exciting things to see and do in the following destinations:
Things to See & Do in Morocco
- Camel Trekking, Zagora
- Cascades d’Ouzoud, Middle Atlas
- Chefchaouen, Tangier
- Fes el – Bali, Fes
- Goats, Souss Valley – Agadir
- International Arts Festival, Asilah
- Jemaa el Fna, Marrakech
- Kasbah Glaoui, Telouet
- Majorelle Gardens and the Museum of Islamic Art
- Rock Carvings near Ouka’meden
- Skiing, Ouka’meden
- Souks, all through Morocco
- The Sahara Desert
- Trekking, the Atlas Mountains
- Windsurfing, Agadir and Essaouira
Camel Trekking, Zagora
Camel trekking is not everyone's cup of tea! Though it provides a very authentic experience and is a novel way of seeing the sights, you must have an affinity with this animal to be able to enjoy the trek. A camel trek can make you feel tired, sore and nauseous. Do avoid treks that are longer than a day. But do not miss this unique experience!
Cascades d’Ouzoud, Middle Atlas
Cascades d'Ouzud is a scenic spot with cascading waterfalls. A quiet and serene place that is not crowded and not commercialised, Cascades d'Ouzud is just the place to sit back and literally put your feet up. There are camping grounds and cafes that will take care of the basic necessities.
Chefchaouen, Tangier
Chefchaouen is located in the Rif Mountains. It is known as the cannabis capital of Morocco, which is perhaps the reason for its popularity with independent travellers. This tiny town is beautiful, tranquil and unspoilt. There is a great deal you can do here. You can go hiking up the mountains or swim in the numerous streams. You can also stretch out with a long cool drink on Outa El Hammam, the main square, and soak in the charm of the white houses and their vividly painted doors.
Fes el – Bali, Fes
Fes is a typical medieval city with many ancient buildings and historical landmarks tucked away in small streets and alleys. It was the capital of Morocco for over 400 years and is regarded as the cultural and religious hub of Morocco even today. Do visit the Fes El Bali, an exotic medina city, the Royal Palace, the Merenid tombs and the Jewish quarter of Mellah in this city, which has attained a harmonious blend of the ancient and the contemporary.
Goats, Souss Valley – Agadir
The goats of the Souss valley offer a truly astounding experience as they climb the Argan trees to feed on the higher branches of the trees. Do not miss this unique yet comical display of acrobatics!
International Arts Festival, Asilah
Asilah is a small beach town on the North Atlantic Coast of Morocco. The walls of the city are painted with colourful and vivid murals and the houses are painted white, making it look like a village right out of Greece. Moroccans flock to Asilah in summer to enjoy its beaches, explore the smaller shops and visit the medina and the ramparts.
Every year in August, an arts festival is held in Asilah. It is a riot of music and colour. If you are an avid shopper and an art lover, try to plan your trip in August so that you can catch the Asilah Arts Festival.
Jemaa el Fna, Marrakech
Jemma el Fna, the heart of Marrakech, is the central square of the old city. Both locals and tourists head for the Jemma el Fna to enjoy a variety of experiences. During the day you can savour dates and freshly squeezed orange juice from the quaint stalls. As the afternoon comes to an end, snake charmers, jugglers, musicians, story tellers and acrobats set up shop to entertain you. By evening, the square comes to life with entertainment that mirrors the medieval ages. The snack stalls give way to vendors offering more substantial fare and the whole square takes on a festive atmosphere. A visit to the Jemma el Fna is highly recommended.
Kasbah Glaoui, Telouet
Kasbah Glaoui is an inspiring relic, which invokes images of Berber and Arab warriors mounted on steeds galloping across Telouet. It is an imposing monument worth visiting.
Majorelle Gardens and the Museum of Islamic Art
Two French artists, Louis and Jacques Majorelle built a garden in the 1920s and filled it with fish ponds and plants and flowers of different sizes, shapes and colours. This peaceful garden has a striking yellow and bright blue building that holds your attention. It was used by the Majorelles as a studio and is today a Museum of Islamic Art exhibiting some fine examples of Moroccan jewellery, pottery, carpets and tribal art. The Majorelle Gardens is now owned by reputed designer Yves Saint Laurent, who has built his house on its grounds.
The museum and gardens are open on all days of the week. There is a two hour lunch break everyday between noon and 2.00 p.m.
Rock Carvings near Ouka’meden
Rock carvings from the pre historic era depicting animals are found near Ouka'meden. Visit this spot if you are interested in ancient civilisations.
Skiing, Ouka’meden
Avid skiers must visit Ouka'meden. The Oukaimden ski resort is about 50 miles away from Marrakech and offers excellent skiing opportunities. The resort has many ski lifts and a variety of terrains to suit all styles and levels. If the ski lifts are out of order, then you can enjoy an unforgettable ride up to the resort on a donkey!
The ideal time to ski is between the months of February and April because there is adequate snowfall between January and mid February to enable visitors to ski. Even if the snowfall is inadequate, the views from the resort are truly breathtaking and justify the visit!
Souks, all through Morocco
Wherever you are in Morocco, there is always a souk nearby for you to visit. The souks of Morocco have shops selling many interesting articles. You can spend hours at the souks, marvelling at the range of things - all reasonably priced. A visit to the souk is an interesting experience, not to be missed.
The Sahara Desert
Trekking, the Atlas Mountains
Even the most reluctant trekker will be moved by the spectacular views that are thrown up on a trek through the Atlas Mountains. The trek up Mount Jebel Toukbal, the highest mountain in Morocco at a height of 4165 metres, is a very popular one. It offers magnificent views of the surrounding areas.
All you need on this two-day trek is to be reasonably fit. You will also need to carry warm clothes and boots as it can get quite cold as you climb. There is a lodge half way up the mountain where trekkers normally halt overnight.
There are many treks other than the one to Mount Jebel Toukbal. You can also customize your trekking plans to suit your requirements. But do remember, longer treks involve walking though remote regions and therefore it is most advisable to hire a guide.
Windsurfing, Agadir and Essaouira
If you love outdoor sports then you should try your hand at wind surfing. Agadir and Essaouira are two places where conditions for windsurfing are ideal. Essaouira is a small town on the Atlantic Coast just a few hours away from Marrakech. The 10 kilometre long beach, the medina, fresh seafood and its laidback attitude make Essaouira an ideal place to escape to from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. Locals head there, especially in summer, to paddle in the waters and play soccer on the beach.
The waters in Essaouira are very cold and the climate is very windy. It is therefore not very suitable for swimming or sunbathing. But the wind is ideal for wind surfing and kite surfing. You may not have the courage to kite surf but you can certainly watch it!








